TAJ MAHAL

TAJ MAHAL

Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the eight wonders of the world, and some Western historians have noted that it’s architectural beauty has never been surpassed.  The Taj Mahal is the most beautiful monument built by the Mughals, the Muslim rulers of India.  Taj Mahal is built entirely of white marble.  Its stunning architectural beauty is beyond adequate description, particularly at dawn and sunset.  The Taj seems to glow in the light of the full moon.  On a foggy morning, the visitors experience the Taj Mahal as if suspended when viewed from across the Jamuna River.

A Muslim, Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his dear wife and queen built the Taj Mahal at Agra, India.  The society at the time was very productive and created a lot of success and hope for the Indians there.  When Mumtaz Mahal was still alive, she extracted four promises from the emperor:  first, that he build the Taj Mahal; second, that he should marry again; third, that he should be kind to their children; and fourth, that he visit the tomb on her death anniversary.  He kept the 1st and 2nd promises.  The construction began in 1631.  The expert craftsman from Delhi, Qannauj, Lahore, and Multan were employed. They constructed the monument over a period of twenty-two years, with employment of 20,000 workers.  The total amount spent on the beautiful and sacred monument was 32 million rupees.

The problems and issues of the Taj Mahal was very difficult back then.  Actually, it was two main issues, but they were very burdensome.  The only issue was the death of his wife and getting the beautiful monument done.  The lengthy wait and the overcoming of her death was too much for Shah Jahan, but he had promised to his loving wife that he would eventually complete the sacred monument in her name.

Everyone has their own favorite time to see the Taj Mahal.  Crowds will distract you from the cool, serene presence of this flawless monument.  The best way is to try arriving just as it opens or as it is about to close.  A few minutes alone in the perpetually echoing inner sanctum will reward you far more than several hours spent on a guided tour.  The sensuously curving lines of the temple of love demand to be savored without interruption, then the presence of the building itself will impart its own message.

The event has triggered being part of the wonders of the world.  It started to attract many people from other cultures because of its beauty and the mystery behind it.  It intrigues people on how one person designs a monument for his wife and tries to accomplish the promises she gave before she had died.  People wonder how that much love from one man to his wife can show that there is always hope in a relationship even after the significant other dies.

Negative events were not really triggered in this situation.  In this case, Mumtaz Mahal was in love with her husband, Shah Jahan.  She wanted to have the love continue and that is why she had given those four promises to help realize that the love can still grow strong.  The monument symbolizes the love that Shah Jahan had for his deceased wife, Mumtaz.  Mumtaz wanted this monument more than anything.  She wanted to be remembered with a monument, which symbolizes “eternal love.”

As a tribute to a beautiful woman and as a monument for enduring love, the Taj Mahal reveals its subtleties when one visits it without being in a hurry.  The rectangular base of the Taj Mahal is in itself symbolic of the different sides from which to view a beautiful woman.  The main gate is like a veil to a woman’s face that should be lifted delicately, gently, and without haste on the wedding night.  In my tradition, the veil is lifted gently to reveal the beauty of the bride.  As one stands inside the main gate of the Taj Mahal, his eyes are directed to an arch that frames the Taj Mahal.  The dome is made of white marble and the background works its magic colors.  The colors change at different hours of the day.  It sparkles in the moonlight when the light hits the white marble and catches the glow of the moon.  The reflections of light seem to depict the different moods of the woman.

The tombs of Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal are actually located in a shadowy burial crypt.  At ground level, in the very center of the building is the cenotaph dedicated to Mumtaz.  If you sing in the inner shrine of the monument, the notes will float upwards in a flow of music of the spheres.  This event was very influential in the time of its occurrence because looking at this building, you will see how much love there is and how strong this love stood.  It represents so much to many of the visitors on different levels.

It has really affected my life because I feel very proud of my Indian heritage and how I can go to my homeland and have the chance to see a monument I can be very proud of.  I’m so happy that India has one of the great wonders that I can admire and tell about to others.  I hope to gain a lot of knowledge about the Taj Mahal whenever I go there.  Just to experience it in person and to admire the beauty and artistic views would be amazing.

I think what inspired me the most was the strong love between Shah and Mumtaz.  To have such a love would make such a relationship grow and blossom solidly.  I just hope in my life that I can find the right person and experience the love and solid trust that Shah and Mumtaz had between them.

This event will be important to me in an hundred years because this is a part of my Indian background.  I’m going to teach this story to my children and I hope it will be passed on down throughout the coming generations.  It is just so interesting on how it all came together and how unique it is today.

Under the full moon, the pearly white exterior is shrouded in mystery.  That would be love, the greatest mystery of all.  In India, take the time you will be spending there to learn and gain new perspectives.  Someday you can use the stuff that you have learned and apply it to your daily relationship and acquire the “eternal love” that Shah and Mumtaz created.